Clamp for soil-pipe test-plugs.



W. A. SMITH.

CLAMP FOR SOIL PIPE TEST PLUGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 1911.

1,226,023. V Patented May15,1917.

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WALTER ARCHIE SMITH, OF TOIPEKA, KMTSAS.

CLAMP FOR SOIL-PIPE TEST-PLUGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1217.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,672.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WALTER ARoriIn Siurrir, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Soil-Pipe Test-Plugs, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention is a device to be used in conjunction with soil-pipe testing-plugs; and its object is to afford a simple, convenient, and efiicient means for positively holding the plug in place under any pressure. A further object is to provide such means which can be applied to any size of pipe and toany type of end and in conjunction with any of the usual types of plugs. Further objects will be explained hereinafter.

in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification and in the description of the drawings, 1 have shown my invention in its preferred form and what I deem to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof, but it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, I contemplate changes in form, proportions, and materials, the transposition of parts, and the substitution of equivalent members, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of a single clamp made in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an inside face view, the inner side herein mentioned being the side which is inside the soil-pipe when the clamp is applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the brace being removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the bell end of a soil pipe, a testing-plug in place in the end, and a pair of my clamps applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the straight end of a soil-pipe, with a test ing-plug inserted therein, and a pair of my clamps applied thereto.

Similar reference characters indicate simila r parts throughout the several views.

The clamp proper consists of the spanner portion 6 formedwith an outer leg 7 and an inner leg 8, the outer face of the inner leg being formed with sharp teeth 9 and being convexed to conform approximately to the inside surface of the pipe to which it is to be applied, and the inner face of the inner leg being concaved, as shown at 10. 11 is a through the outer leg 7, and adapted to be screwed inwardly against the outer surface of the pipe, so as to clamp the pipe rigidly and securely between the inner end of the set-screw and the outer toothed face of the inner leg 8. The end of the leg 8 is squared, as shown at 12, to afford an abutment for the testing-plug in certain cases which will be explained. Pivoted to the inner upper corner of the clamp proper, at 13, 13, is a brace comprising the two legs 14, 14 rigidly secured together by means of the spacer 15. Coiled about the spacer is a spring 16, the middle portion of which is formed into a loop 17 adapted to bear against the inner leg 8, and the free ends of which, 18, enter holes 19 in the respectively adjacent legs 14, 14:. The spring serves to tend to force the free end of the brace away from the pipe wall to which the clamp may be attached. The upper outer corner of the clamp proper is formed with a slight projection or rib 30 against which the spring is adapted to bear with slight pressure when the brace is thrown around to the position indicated by the dotted outline in Fig. 1. This is the position to which the brace is preferably thrown when the clamp is out of use and when being carried about. The spring pressure is sufficient to keep the brace from being dislodged from this position; but it may be dislodged by merely lifting it with enough exertion to push the end of the spring over the rib.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5: 24 is a soil-pipe. In Fig. 4. is shown the bell end 25, and in Fig. 5 is shown the straight end. The testing-plug shown is of the type in common use, having an expansible rubber ring 20, a cone 21, a wing-nut 22 by the operation of which the ring is expanded and contracted, and a pipe 23 on which the nut has screw-threaded engagement, and which serves not only as a tie between the parts expanding and contracting the ring but also as a conduit for the introduction of the water into the system to be tested. When the clamps are used in conjunction with the testing-plug at the bell end, as in Fig. 4, a pair of them are used diametrically opposite to each other and clamped to the rim of the bell as shown. The braces extend inwardly. The testing-plug is inserted into the pipe a proper distance and the clamps are applied, the brace following along the cone against set-screw having screwthreaded engagement the pressure of the spring. The plug may be pulled outwardly until the ring portion abuts against the inner ends of the braces; or if this snug fit is not efi'ected at the start, excessive pressure from within will only force the plug along until it rests against the braces. The same method is followed when the testing-plug is applied to the straight end of the pipe, and in such case the braces may be similarly used; or they may be swung around out of the way and the testing-plug permitted to abut against the inner squared ends of the inner legs of the clamping member proper, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the plug is operable independently of the clamps, so that the ring may be expanded or the wing-nut tightened whenever necessary without removing either the testing plug or the clamps.

Obviously the clamp proper is to be very substantial in construction. I prefer to make it of drop forging. It is extremely rugged and able to withstand the uses and abuses to which such devices are subjected.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a clamping member proper having a spanner portion formed with an outer leg and an inner leg, the outer face of the inner leg being formed with teeth and being convexed and the inner face of the inner leg being concaved, a brace comprising two'legs pivoted at their upper ends to the upper inner corners of the clamp proper and a spacer extending between said two brace legs and securing them rigidly together, a spring secured to said brace and adapted to bear against theinner face of the inner leg of the clamp proper, and asetscrew having screw-threaded engagement through said outer leg; said clamping member proper being also formed with a projection with which said spring engages when the brace is swung around to the outer side of the member.

2. The combination of a clamping member proper having a. spanner portion formed with two legs, a set-screw having screwthreaded engagement through one of said legs and adapted in conjunction with the other leg to clamp the end of a pipe, and a brace pivoted to said clamping member proper and extending inwardly of the pipe beyond the end of the last-mentioned leg.

3. The combination of a clamp proper comprising a spanner portion and two substantially'parallel legs, one of said legs being formed with teeth facing the other leg, and a set-screw having screw-threaded engagement through said other leg and adapted in conjunction with said toothed leg to clamp the wall of a pipe, and the end of said toothed leg being formed as an abutment for a testing-plug.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. 7

WALTER ARCHIE SMITH.

(Iopies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. 0. 

